01/11/12

Story by Diane Carroll

'Mound' Reception

The mesmerizing film Mound by Allison Schulnik, which has been acquired by the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art, features a cast of ghoulish characters.

Nerman Museum acquires video Mound by artist Allison Schulnik 

OVERLAND PARK, Kan. – Projected in the Nerman Museum of Contemporary Art’s Oppenheimer New Media Gallery at Johnson County Community College is Allison Schulnik’s new mesmerizing film Mound. A reception celebrating this latest acquisition to the Oppenheimer Collection will be held in the museum Atrium from 6 to 8 p.m., Friday, January 13th. The reception is free and open to the public. 

The 4.23-minute film features a ghoulish cast of more than 100 figures – mostly made from clay – which sway and melt and reappear. It's the kind of film that requires multiple viewings for one to appreciate the extraordinary range of movement, detail and expression.

Schulnik spent nearly eight months creating the hand-sculpted and sewn puppets that wander in ballet fashion on the screen and emit emotion. Their movements are accompanied by a haunting ballad called It’s Raining Today by legendary singer-songwriter Scott Walker. During an interview this past November with The Creators Project, a global network that celebrates creativity, culture and technology, Schulnik commented on her background in dance and that she has been obsessed with Walker’s songs for years. She shot the video with his 1969 song in mind, and she said he graciously gave his approval for her to use it.

When asked recently whether her dreams influenced her artistic output, or if her influence came more from external sources, Schulnik replied, "I guess it comes from different places – dreams, daydreams, nightmares, imagined realities, farcical theatrics, once-loved discarded relics, people I know and love or hate, music, cartoons, books, images, paintings, cinema, dance, theater, trash, food, water, beer, dirt."

The Nerman acquired the spellbinding, animated film, which Schulnik completed this past fall, through the generosity of museum patrons Marti and Tony Oppenheimer. Mound is the fourth Schulnik work to join the Nerman Museum collection. The museum previously acquired three of her major paintings. One of them, Skipping Skeletons (also an Oppenheimer Collection acquisition), is currently on view in the Irma Starr Gallery.

“We’re deeply grateful for Marti and Tony Oppenheimer’s ongoing generosity. Mound is an extraordinary
addition to the Museum’s renowned Oppenheimer Collection!” stated Bruce Hartman, the museum's executive director.

The Nerman's hours are Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Friday 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.; Sunday noon to 5 p.m.; closed Mondays and college holidays.

Admission to the Nerman and parking are free. For more information, call 913-469-3000.

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